by Karen Sherrell
Early voting began for the Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan Elections on February 16, and will continue through February 29. Election Day is March 1.
Voters in all counties will choose Democratic or Republican ballots to pick their candidates.
In ballot order, Democratic candidates for U.S. President are Hillary Clinton, John Wolfe, Bernie Sanders, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, James Valentine, and Martin J. O’Malley.
On the Republican ballot for U.S. President, candidates are Donald J. Trump, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Rick Santorum, John R. Kasich, and Mike Huckabee. As of February 11, several Republican candidates have announced they are no longer seeking the presidency, including Christie, Santorum, Huckabee, Fiorina, Paul, and Graham. For U.S. Senate, candidates are Curtis Coleman and Senator John Boozman.
In the tri-county area, in addition to the U.S. and state races, a few local races have emerged, and early voting locations and precincts have been announced.
IZARD COUNTY – Early voting is underway at Ozarka College in Melbourne, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
In addition to the Ozarka College site, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Horseshoe Bend will have early voting, two days only, Thursday, February 25, and Friday, February 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 1, with polls open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The following are the voting precincts and sites in Izard County: Absentee voting, Izard County Courthouse; Big Spring, Lafferty, and Mount Pleasant, Mount Pleasant Community Building; Boswell, Sylamore and Twin Creek, Ruthie Mountain Fire Dept.; Brockwell and Newburg, Senior Center; Calico Rock and Claiborne, Calico Rock City Hall; Dolph and Pineville, Pineville Fire Station; Franklin, Myron, and Wiseman, Old Franklin City Hall; Gid and Guion, Reeve’s Cemetery Building; Horseshoe Bend, St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Knob Creek, Lacrosse, Larkin, Melbourne and Sage, Ozarka College; Oxford and Wideman, Oxford City Hall; Strawberry and Zion, Zion Community Building; and Violet Hill, Violet Hill Gym.
FULTON COUNTY – Contests in Fulton County for the March 1 primary include two local Democratic races. For Coroner, candidates are Steven Barker, Incumbent, and Melissa James; and for Treasurer, candidates are Boyd Dailey and Seth Jones, Incumbent.
Early voting hours at the Fulton County Clerk’s office will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, from Feb. 16 to 27. On Monday, Feb. 29, hours are 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
In addition to the courthouse site, early voting will be held at Simmons Bank in Mammoth Spring on Friday, Feb. 26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Polling places on Election Day in Fulton County are: for Alton, and Mammoth Spring, Mammoth Spring Fire Station; Benton and Union, Salem City Hall; Cherokee Village, Omaha Center; Cleveland, Byron Community Building; Fulton and Mt. Calm, Viola City Hall; Myatt, Saddle Community Building; Pleasant Ridge, Agnos Community Building; Southfork and Wilson, Camp Fire Station; Strawberry, Morriston Fire Station #2; Vidette and Big Creek, Gepp Fire Station; and Washington, Sturkie Fire Station.
SHARP COUNTY – Races in Sharp County during the Primary Election on the Republican ballot are for County Judge, Dustin Rogers and Phillip D. Hood.
On the Democratic ballot, for Constable District 1, Israel Hester and Kevin Deinst in only these precincts, Upper North, Lower North, Hardy and North Union.­
Polling places on Election Day in Sharp County are: Big Creek and Scott, Grange Fire Station; Cave, Community Center Cave City; Cherokee, City Hall Cherokee Village; Davidson, Liberty Hill Church; East Sullivan, Church Building Maxville Community; Hardy, Hardy Fire Station; Highland, City Hall Highland; Jackson, North Lebanon, South Union, Williford Fire Station; Lave Creek, Camp Ground Community Building; Lower North and Upper North, Fire Station at Wirth; Morgan, Center Fire Department; North Big Rock, South Big Rock, and Strawberry, Poughkeepsie Fire Department; North Unioin, Hilltop Community Building; Ozark, Ozark Acres Clubhouse; Piney Fork, Faith Assembly of god Church; Richwood, Sharp County Courthouse Courtroom; south Lebanon, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church; Washington, Faith Assembly of God Church, Evening Shade; Maxville, Church Building, Cave City; West Sullivan, Sidney Community Center.
In the Non-Partisan Judicial Election which will be found on both party ballots March 1, for State Supreme Court Chief Justice, Position 1, candidates are State Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson and Judge Dan Kemp; for State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 5, Judge Shawn A. Womack and Clark W. Wilson; for Court of Appeals Associate Judge District 02, Judge Mike Murphy and Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland.
Unofficial results will be posted at the county courthouses following the receipt of all votes from county precincts.
Primary Election winners will move on to the General Election in November to face Independent candidates. At that time, voters are allowed to choose which party they wish to vote for, no matter their ballot choice during the March 1 Primary.
Election results will be listed online at www.pacesettingtimesonline.com following the unofficial tally.